This is the living space inside one of the single family homes. Residents of the small community live among acres and acres of nature, just steps from water. The first amusement park rides were moving by 1910. Check out recent photos from one of the Boblo boats. Gone are the roller coasters, but there are plenty of. This amusement park, while once the delight of both kids and adults until the early 90s, has been abandoned for more than two decades. Its amusement rides were sold in 1994. Barb's Boblo Tavern. For more than 85 years, the Boblo Island Amusement Park was famous for being served by the Steamer Ste Claire and the Steamer Columbia excursion boats that could hold about 2,500 passengers each. Both vessels are bound for Boblo Island. Colorful picnic tables near Captain Bob's Ice Cream & Coffee Cabin. [19] He vaguely proposed a casino, hotel, and other development. For visitors based in Detroit, it was about 30 kilometers away and could be reached by ferry. Why did Boblo Island shut down? http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/05/23/grosse-iles-sugar-island-beach-opens-to-public-saturday/ (Sorry, you may need to copy and paste the website addresses above; my link feature is not successfully linking at the moment. The ferrys were known as "Bob-Lo Boats" and held about 2,500 passengers each. Exploring and discovering those remains is a thrill in its own right. In the ride's final incarnation, the train itself was a scale recreation of Central Pacific Railroad's 19 th century C.P. OBSCURIST TOURIST 025 - Boblo Island Amusement Park is an abandoned amusement park which operated from 1898 until its closure on September 30, 1993. Getting to the dock in Detroit early in the morning, the anticipation of boarding the boat, the ride on the river, the views, the fact I could play an arcade game on a boat blew my small mind. This is what the more than 100-year old steamer looked like a few years ago. The company was busy during the week, moving people and goods up and down the river. It's docked in New York. Author: Michael R Stoller Jr CC BY-ND 2.0 The reasons for its closure were numerous, ranging from rising maintenance costs and poor management to stronger competition from the nearby, more attractive Cedar Point Park. The island has quite an interesting history. Claire, which used to take passengers to Boblo Island, sits on the Detroit River in August 2015. Boblo's trains made a 20-minute circuit around about 2 miles of track . (Emily Rose Bennett | MLive.com). This is private property and the doors are chain locked. His legacy died when the company came in and took over the park. I did notice, however, the last time we went the island had gone downhill quite a bit. Rochester Hills mom testifies about 2 . We went alot and when my family''s jobs had company picnic it would always be Bob Lo. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. The park has been closed since 1993 DETROIT - Say the name "Boblo" to anyone who grew up around Michigan, and their eyes will light up. The bike rental shop was closed, but you can check your weight for free. I vaguely remember going to Boblo Island Amusement Park as a kid and recently found myself wondering what happened to the place. In its early years, [1] Henry Ford financed a dance hall that was rumored to have been designed and built by famed Detroit architect Albert Kahn,[31] but was later determined to have been designed by John Scott. Boblo (or Bob-Lo) sparks memories for many adults who spent summers riding the ferry to Boblo Island, visiting its amusement park or just enjoying a picnic. How I recall the fun times of going to Bob-Lo, with my sisters and brother. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Other islands Ivevisited have their own historical societies or have joined with other nearby islands to form a historical society: Johnson Island Preservation Society, Lake Erie Islands Historical Society, St. Clair Flats Historical Society, Beaver Island Historical Society, the Grosse Ile Historical Society, and Friends of Bell Isle (now a part ofthe newBelle Isle Conservancy). The island is a five-minute ferry ride from Amherstburg, Ontario, and 18 miles from Detroit. The reasons for its closure were numerous, ranging from rising maintenance costs and poor management to stronger competition from the nearby, more attractive Cedar Point Park. [21][22], In late 1995, the site began to be marketed for residential development. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines. As I have written to the owner of the company that bought the island: You have no idea how much Boblo Island Amusement Park was to our society. (LogOut/ The Boblo Island Beach House Restaurant is located along the western shore of the island by the marina. Soon after this, the British obtained the surrender of the American fort in Detroit without a shot being fired. The native Wyandot called the island "Etiowiteendannenti.Both the Wyandot and French names refer to the white wood appearance lent by the birch and poplar trees that line the banks. This year, I hear theres an ice cream concession, Captain Bobs on the island (http://www.rivertowntimes.com/?s=Captain+bobs&submit). - LJ. My husband is on the Grosse Ile Historical Society BoardI have pictures of Sugar Island in its heyday. Posted . Can you go over to the island any time? These steamers are the oldest passenger steamers in the United States of America, currently anchored at the Great Lakes Steel Dock in Ecorse, Michigan. With a blast of the big steam whistle, lines were cast off, and the 20-mile voyage began, taking about 80 minutes. Two twin villa homes on the north end of the island. - Marva, I am 63 years old and I remember Bob-lo so well. To rebuild would be one of lifes pleasures. The British also built a lighthouse in 1836 which operated until 1959. We were participating in a totally sanctioned, transportation-provided-by-the-school-district Ninth-Grade Skip Day. We would have boarded either the Ste. A combined force of British and Native American soldiers in canoes surprised and overpowered an American vessel en route to Detroit. [32], Boblo's Scootaboats, which were very similar to well known Bumper Cars, were a popular ride. Some of the most popular rides were "The Nightmare," "Sky Streak, "Screamer," and "Wild Mouse.". An incident in 1902 caused a man-made mini earthquake on the island. Smudged by the past, we nevertheless feel a redemptive twinge in the final aerial shot as Dr. Kattoo hoists the flag over Claire's mended hull. Two years later, very little had been done.[34]. Review. Boats are docked in the Boblo Island Marina, located on the western shore of the island. They transformed the island into an amusement park, including a coaster, Ferris wheel, fun house and more. Kathleen Saylors. BOBLO ISLAND - The echoes from the screams of delight have long faded from Boblo Island Amusement Park, the Cedar Point of Michigan for most kids growing up in our region. The men's entrance is to the left. It is sad, Cheryl. Bob-Lo Park (Sometimes seen as Boblo) was established as an entertainment destination in 1898 by the Detroit,Belle Isleand Windsor Ferry Company. There were several trips from Detroit each day, but only two stops in Wyandotte. Claire and the SS Columbia offered ferry services to all those wishing to travel to Boblo Island. This is the view now from the end of the tunnel. Morale among the employees both on the Boats and the Island was at an all-time low according to some veteran workers. St. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. 3 F 1 1/2. I just kayaked to Boblo Island today, and I saw so much potential left in this land. Ferry passengers could be going to the island to patronize the restaurant. - Bonnie, Oh! St. Clair Shores (1950-60s) & never went to the park. [24] The island was off limits to non-residents until 2002. It disappeared for the same reasons like Marineland of the Pacific, and the park in Long Beach. What a shame, all gone because some mega millionaires wanted more money. One of those blockhouses remains, and is open for touring. As well as some great stories, it includes some good photographs from all of the islands incarnations! Over the years it grew into a unique island amusement park, with a midway and dozens of rides. My husband is from This was particularly true during the Great Depression and the World War II era, when finances were tight and the world seemed to exist in a perpetual state of anxiety. Update: A couple of them were partially restored and used during the filming ofTransformers 4. | 5401 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202. Only one blockhouse remains today. the building is not secure, given that one-quarter of a large window in the front is broken in, metal strips hanging from its frame. It is a story told in a new movie that premiered last week in Detroit called "Boblo Boats: A Detroit Ferry Tale". Photo courtesy of the Detroit Historical Society. Boblo Island was an amusement park that was at one time larger than Cedar Point. Sue Cicala. The restaurant just opened for the season on the 24th, this past Friday. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. why did boblo island close. Over the roughly two-and-a-half decades that have passed since the closure, many of the most telltale signs of the park have faded away, including the ultra spooky-looking ferry boats that used to. Part of the experience was the long boat ride to the island. For many people the best ride of the day was on the Bob-Lo Boat that took visitors to the island. [11] Roger Fachini, a 40-year-old engineer for General Dynamics and owner of a waterpark in Utica, Michigan, placed the winning $3.8 million bid and proposed redevelopment after two years,[12][13] but Boblo's creditors turned it down; after the deposit cheque bounced, they took $600,000 less in the bid from Enchanted Parks of Seattle, owners of the Wild Waves Theme Park near that city. And I stood and looked across the river, and what I remember is no longer there, and Im 54 years old . Boblo Island Timeline from the Detroit News, "Bob-Lo Excursion Co. v. Michigan, 333 U.S. 28 (1948)", "Boblo amusement park purchased by U.S. firm", "Park yours for $9 million: Owner says sellany development OK", "Boblo remains viable business, observer says", "Boblo Island gets no nibbles, no takers, says realtor", "Bad news rains on financially troubled Boblo", "Michigan investors unlikely to appeal Boblo ownership", "Boblo tradition seems safer with Seattle owner", "Dance band on the Titanic: Boblo's last tangle", "Former Boblo partner sues ex-partners over sale", "Boblo's roller-coaster saga ends: Piece by historic piece, popular park dismantled", "Boblo's heyday not forgotten: New owner has ties to area", "New Boblo owner offers few details to packed house", "Boblo Island to get 52-home development", "Oram outlines plans for Boblo Island's condominium project", "Boblo in receivership: Island awash in $19M in red ink", "Boblo adrift in red ink: Receiver KPMG finds no money left", "Boblo rising from the dust: New ownership infuses elite island community with optimism", "Amherstburg reminisces after Boblo Island tower demolished", Boblo Island Dance Hall Story from the Detroit News, "Detroit Free Press: Former Boblo Island music machine may draw up to $2.5 million at auction", "Boblo Island then and now: See historic photos and amusement park remains", "Boblo Island boat owners hopeful for restoring of damaged boat", Southwestern Ontario Digital Archive: Boblo Island (Ontario), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Boblo_Island_Amusement_Park&oldid=1114994535, Tourist attractions in Essex County, Ontario, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 9 October 2022, at 09:00. How to live on Boblo Island: [14], The 1993 season proved bumpy and was marred by miscues including disputes with island residents and the Canadian Coast Guard, compounded by the leader of Enchanted Parks, Michael Moodenbaugh, being seriously injured and breaking his spine in a car accident in Toledo, Ohio, in September. All rights reserved (About Us). Poison ivy now grows in the ring of mature trees in front of the Lavatory building, where I imagine the men in hatsretiring for a smoke while they await their dates inflapper attireto emerge from The Ladies Room.. Big changes for Sugar Island, good changes-it has made the drinking & partying boating groups unable to overtake the island.It was not safe. how much was bitcoin in 2010. pets4homes boost advert 9, Juin, 2022. smugglers inn steak soup recipe; what a fun and exciting place. Locate and compare 4423631-Canada-Inc in Colchester Country ON, Yellow Pages Local Listings. A tri-plex home. Neither will my grandchildren. Ray was removed from the boat because she was not white, enforced according to a Bob-Lo company policy "excluding so-called 'zoot-suiters', the rowdyish, the rough, and the boisterous, and it also adopted the policy of excluding colored. One cant imagine a happy centennial celebration for this historic building . The island is now a residential community. [5] The boats were sold off as a result of a decision to shutter operations at the Detroit dock. I was just in Amherstburg Sunday May 27,2013. "Living on the island feels like being on vacation everyday," said Gena Boschin, a former Tennessee resident who lives on the island and works in Amherstburg. Find useful information, the address and the phone number of the local business you are looking for. Second case of COVID-19 confirmed in Windsor-Essex City of Windsor declares state of emergency, Devonshire and Tecumseh malls to close Boblo Island residential development plan moving forward. I do hope that someone will come along and restore the park back to its prime, so we can get families and the community back together again, and we can share our memories with the generations to come. Given that the island was known as the Boblo Island Amusement Park from 1898 1993, Id say, overall, it was a pretty successful run. This is actually only about half of the full-size basement which has been fitted with windows and electricity for add-on bedrooms. The amusement park was so famous in its day that Henry Ford himself provided money for a Dance Hall to be built, designed by the architect John Scott. Bois Blanc Island, former site of the Bob-Lo Island amusement park, is located at southern endof the DetroitRiver before it enters Lake Erie,and is about one-half mile wide and three miles long. The park has been closed since 1993, but the legend of Boblo is still strong. The steamers, the Ste. Boblo was originally named Bois Blanc by the French, but residents couldn't pronounce the name. There are no hotels. Boblo Island Amusement Park ran from 1898 to 1993. The passageway still exists showing Gilbraltar, Michigan to the left and Amherstburg, Ontario to the right. [1] The "Bob-Lo boats" boats were sold in November 1991. What remains of the boat after the fire is currently docked at Riverside Marina in Detroit. The ferry is a short four minute ride to the island. I remember the log ride, where we''d all get wet but would soon dry out running about, the carousel, and of course the roller coaster. 90-year old Captain Bob-Lo greets passengers - 1970s. Valentine and Sons United Publishing Company - This image is part of the Canadian Copyright Collection held by the British Library, and has been digitized as part of the "Picturing Canada" project. The Carousel Building, built in 1905 to house the first amusement ride on Bob-Lo Island, served as a convention hall and later, the roller-skating rink (beginning with the 1940 season) before ending up as a theater. A retreat for the wealthy, amidst dilapidated remnants of history and ghosts of the past, with nature ever encroaching. What's with those GIANT PIE PANS in Traverse City & Charlevoix? If I had mega-millions I would invest in restoration of the island and the amusement park. So sad. Several Detroit organizations held annual picnics on the island. When was the last time yousailed down the Detroit River toBob-Lo Island, to summertime? Here are some we found on various blogs and forums: I was one of the last generations of people who were able to enjoy Bob-Lo island amusement park. The back of the 50,000-sq-ft building which was commissioned by Henry Ford and built in 1913. Bob-Lo was such a fun place and figures so prominently in many peoples childhood summertime memories! 6 reviews #1 of 2 Restaurants in Pointe Aux Pins American Pub. The children of this time will never get to enjoy what we did when we were children. RE/MAX Preferred Realty Ltd. - 585. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Colorful adirondack chairs surround a campfire pit near Captain Bob's. Find useful information, the address and the phone number of the local business you are looking for. The existence of such an organization would certainly be complicated by the facts that 1) Bob-Lo is a Canadian island with an overbearing American past, and 2) today Bob-Lo primarily serves asa retreat for the wealthy, who I can imagine would not want people coming to visit the historical remains there,any more than they would want hunters (although if theyown a cat or a small dog, the latter might be welcome if they could take care of the coyote population). The ferry leaves every 20 minutes from a dock next to the Bob-Lo Discovery Centre. The ride takes about 5 or 10 minutes, instead of the hour it used to take whenone departedon the other side of the border. Claire or the Columbia, but no cellphone cameras documented that embarkation and carrying a Kodak Instamatic simply would not have been cool. Quite disappointing that we never went back, management was doing a terrible job. Ive been talking to friends who also loved Boblo and I am going to do further study. By Edward Pevos of MLive - epevos@MLive.com. [15] Moodenbaugh had hired Liberal MPP Remo Mancini to help market the park. People should not be making assumptions about the island residents. All Rights Reserved. Each boat could hold about 2,500 passengers. Purchasing a home on Boblo Island? Hundreds of small amusement parks went out in 1980s as families all went to super amusement parks like Cedar Point and Six Flags and did not visit small ones often. . In this respect, today, Bob-Lo Island appears a bead broken off from the strand, adrift in more than just the Detroi River, its historic integrity drowned in the current of a sequence of ill-fated development schemes. Claire provided . Claire and the SS Columbia? Founded in 2017, K.K.Dhandapani World School, Deevanur is a part of the Dharani Educational institutions group.
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